Cricket

England opts to bat vs India in 2nd ODI; teams unchanged

LONDON (AP) England set up another series decider after easing past India by 86 runs in their second one-day international at Lord’s on Saturday.

Like the Twenty20 series, England won the second match. In that series finale, though, India prevailed.

England, 239-6 in the 42nd over, exploded with a Joe Root century and a David Willey maiden half-century to post a suddenly imposing 322-7.

”David came in and took a lot of pressure off me, to help us turn in what was at least a par score, so it was a fabulous effort from him,” Root said.

”Hopefully we can back that up and finish the series off now.”

India’s bid to win the series with a match to spare ended when captain Virat Kohli walked after being trapped by Moeen Ali on 45, and Suresh Raina, dropped on 28, was bowled by Adil Rashid on 46 at 5-154.

A curious innings followed from former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who hit only two boundaries in 37 from 59 balls.

He passed 10,000 career ODI runs but the crowd booed and slow-clapped his defensive shots, and he was finally out going for a third boundary.

”This comes up again and again when he is not able to play in the normal way he does,” Kohli said in Dhoni’s defense.

”It’s very unfortunate people just jump to conclusions very quickly. When he does well people call him the best finisher ever and when they don’t go well they all pounce on him. We all have bad days in cricket and today was a bad one for everyone, not just him.

”Other people jump to conclusions but we don’t, we totally believe in him.”

Siddarth Kaul fell in the same over as Dhoni to give fast bowler Liam Plunkett leading figures of 4-46.

The third and last ODI is on Tuesday at Leeds.

England was so spooked by India wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, following the eight-wicket loss on Thursday, that it opted to bat first for the first time since October 2016.

The fears proved founded when Yadav removed opener Jonny Bairstow with just his second delivery. Bairstow played onto his stumps via his pad attempting a sweep, departing for 38 from 31 balls at 69-1.